Anode for use in electroplating



Dec. 2, l924. 1,517,630

G. JONES AN ODE FOR US E I N ELECTRORLATI NG 2; Atty Patented Dec. A2,1924.`

1,511,630 PATENT oFFlcE.

GIRALDUS JONES, 0F BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

ANODE FOB. USE IN ELECTROPLATING.

Application filled December 13, 1923. Serial No. 680,305.

To all whom imag concern:

Beit made known that I, GIRALDUs JONES, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, of 58 St. Oswalds Road, Small Heath Park, Birmingham, England,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Anodes for Use inElectroplating, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in anodes for use inelectro-plating, and refers to anodes particularly adapted for use inthe electro-deposition of metals such as nickel or cobalt.

Such metals are commonly placed on the market in the form of smallpellets, shot, rondelles or cubes, and one of the objects of myinvention is to provide an anode in which the metal can advantageouslybe used directly in this form without the necessity for melting down androlling or otherwise forming it into plates or the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide an anode in which the anodemetal can vbe rapidly and easily replaced as it is used up withoutremoving the anode from the electro-plating vat or tank so that theplant can be maintained continuously at full working eiiiciency.

A further object of my invention is to provide an anode in which theextent to` which the anode metal has been used up can be seen at aglance by the operator or attendant.

A further object is to avoid the use of solid current leads into theanode container which rapidly wear away, and to make use of the anodemetal itself for this purpose.

These and 'other advantages of my improved anode will be apparent byreference to the accompanying drawings in which has been illustrated aconvenient practical embodiment of my invention.

In these drawings Figure 1,.is a perspective view of the complete anode.

Figure 2, is avertical section of the upper part of the anode takenthrough the longer axis.

In the form) illustrated the anode is of hollow box form builtiip from arectangular skeleton frame of wooden bars or battens a closed on eachside by a sheet b of perforated celluloid or like acid proof materiallSecured upon the to face of the upper bar a by screws d is a at metallate e the -lateral dimensions of which are su stantially equal to thoseof the bar. This plate carries two spaced upstanding lugs f pierced toreceive hooks or wires by which the anode is suspended in theelectro-plating vat or tank and by which electric current is led to theplate.

The plate e also has at or near the centre of its length a funnel orhopper g, preferably of oval section, which communicates with theinterior of the anode through an opening in the plate at the bottom ofthe hopper and a registering opening h on the top bar a.

The plate e and the hoppery are preferably of the same metal as theplating metal for ,which the anode is to be used.

In use the plating metal in the form of pellets or shot j is adapted tobe introduced into the interior of the anode through the hopper g andsuiiicient metal is introduced to iill the anode and also wholly orpartially to fill the hopper.

Electrical connection to the metal is thus made through the hopper g,plate e, and lugs f so that separate current leads dipping into the shotor pellets are unnecessary.

As the metal in the anode is used up in the electro-plating process itwill automatically be replaced by fresh metal feeding down from thehopper, and when the metal in the hopper becomes low this fact will beobvious to the. operator or attendant and the hopper can be at oncereplenished without diiliculty.

If desired the plate e may be covered ex` ternally with celluloid orother acid proof covering so long as the contact surfaces Within thelugs f and within the hopper ,f/ are left clear.

I claim:

1. An anode for use in electro-plating comprising a hollow box, havingperforated sides, a hopper at the top having suspension and currentconnecting means and communicating with the interior of the anode, theplating metal in divided form being fed into the anode through thehopper and therewith forming the means for conveying current from theanode.

2. An anode for use in electro-plating comprising ahollow box havingperforated sides, a metal plate secured upon thevupper face of the box;suspension and current conveying means upon the plate, and a hopper uponthe plate communicatin with the interior of the anode through whichhopper plating metal in divided form is fed into the anode, and saidplate and hopper forming the means for conveying current to said platingmetal.

anode for use in electro-plating comprising a rectangular frame ofWooden bars closed on its two open sides by perforated Celluloid sheetssecured to the bars, a metal plate secured to the upper face of the topbar, suspension and'current conveying means upon the plate, and a hopperupon the plate and in electrical connection therewith, said hoppercommunicating with the interior of the Vanode through an opening 'in thetop bar of the frame.

4c. An anode for use in electro-plating comprising a hollow box havingperforated sides, a metal plate secured upon the upper face of the box,suspension and current conveying means upon the plate, and a hopper uponthe plate communicating with the interior of the anode, the saidsuspension 'and current conveying means comprising .upstandingperforated lugs onthe plate to ture.

GIRALDUS JONES.

